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Warhammer 40,000
Labyrinth of Sorrows
As war spreads across the sector, Imperial and Chaos forces clash on the mortuary world of Kasharat. Far from the front lines, Space Marines of the Brazen Minotaurs infiltrate an ancient temple-tomb, seeking an artefact sacred to their Chapter... one that could turn the tide of battle in the Imperium’s favour. But they are not the first to enter the tomb – as the Space Marines race to seize their prize, they are watched from the shadows. Are the mysterious Raven Guard there to help the Brazen Minotaurs, or to destroy them?
1 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
George Mann
364 books684 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2020
”Less Jim Henson Labyrinth and more Hellbound perhaps?”
Labyrinth of Sorrows by George Mann has some rather interesting elements to it, but sadly, for me, the story is lacking and the characters even more so.
The story starts out as war spreads across the sector, the Imperial and Chaos forces clash on the mortuary world of Kasharat. We’re introduced to the Brazen Minotaurs Chapter (I feel like I’ve heard of these guys before) whom are seeking an ancient relic which is sacred to their Chapter. As this Chapter races try seize their prize, I’m going to be honest, the Minotaurs are a blunt instrument. They rather remind me of the World Eaters in their care of casualties taken. This isn’t helped by the fact they believe the relic they are after will change the course of the war. They run headlong into battle, not tactics, just head first en-mass, madness for a Chapter.
Shortly after the opening engagement we’re introduced to a squad of Raven Guard who have come to repay a debt of honour to the Brazen Minotaurs – that is to assist them in their search. Cyrus is rather an interesting character to begin with, but I have to be honest, characters are all very ‘samey’ here and I’m struggling to recall other personae from this audio drama – there is a cast of 4 however.
The ‘labyrinth’ is an underground temple – where both Chapters race to – unfortunately it turns into a slaughter for the Brazen Minotaurs’ who lose companies worth of Space Marine’s to the Nurgle infested Death Guard. There’s no real antagonist, which is also a problem. You could argue that Nurgle is enough in itself, but I just didn’t get that feeling with this AD.
I will say the weird Brazen Minotaurs’ accent is a weird mesh of Nordic with Caribbean from Rupert Degas. I absolutely want to hear accents other than the standard English affair – but sadly it just doesn’t work here. If you’ve played Starcraft 2 then I’d compare them to a really badly voiced Tosh. Sound effects are horribly (that’s a thumbs up by-the-by) squelching and wet sounding from the swamp infested world. Some of the deaths are fairly graphic also, even for 40K. I’ll just mention a particular Space Marine who’s neck to spanned and then their spinal cord is ripped out and used as a whip. Yep, that happened.
Writing, I’d say is slightly worse than George Mann’s other audio drama Helion Rain which also failed to impress me. The quality is just lacking with characters and the narrative (ironically) gets bogged down by this. Hopefully your like Labyrinth of Sorrows more than me. If you think differently to me, then please do let me know what you enjoyed!
Labyrinth of Sorrows by George Mann has some rather interesting elements to it, but sadly, for me, the story is lacking and the characters even more so.
The story starts out as war spreads across the sector, the Imperial and Chaos forces clash on the mortuary world of Kasharat. We’re introduced to the Brazen Minotaurs Chapter (I feel like I’ve heard of these guys before) whom are seeking an ancient relic which is sacred to their Chapter. As this Chapter races try seize their prize, I’m going to be honest, the Minotaurs are a blunt instrument. They rather remind me of the World Eaters in their care of casualties taken. This isn’t helped by the fact they believe the relic they are after will change the course of the war. They run headlong into battle, not tactics, just head first en-mass, madness for a Chapter.
Shortly after the opening engagement we’re introduced to a squad of Raven Guard who have come to repay a debt of honour to the Brazen Minotaurs – that is to assist them in their search. Cyrus is rather an interesting character to begin with, but I have to be honest, characters are all very ‘samey’ here and I’m struggling to recall other personae from this audio drama – there is a cast of 4 however.
The ‘labyrinth’ is an underground temple – where both Chapters race to – unfortunately it turns into a slaughter for the Brazen Minotaurs’ who lose companies worth of Space Marine’s to the Nurgle infested Death Guard. There’s no real antagonist, which is also a problem. You could argue that Nurgle is enough in itself, but I just didn’t get that feeling with this AD.
I will say the weird Brazen Minotaurs’ accent is a weird mesh of Nordic with Caribbean from Rupert Degas. I absolutely want to hear accents other than the standard English affair – but sadly it just doesn’t work here. If you’ve played Starcraft 2 then I’d compare them to a really badly voiced Tosh. Sound effects are horribly (that’s a thumbs up by-the-by) squelching and wet sounding from the swamp infested world. Some of the deaths are fairly graphic also, even for 40K. I’ll just mention a particular Space Marine who’s neck to spanned and then their spinal cord is ripped out and used as a whip. Yep, that happened.
Writing, I’d say is slightly worse than George Mann’s other audio drama Helion Rain which also failed to impress me. The quality is just lacking with characters and the narrative (ironically) gets bogged down by this. Hopefully your like Labyrinth of Sorrows more than me. If you think differently to me, then please do let me know what you enjoyed!
September 16, 2012
Just to note before you start reading this novel, you can try finishing Helion Rain first, as some of the characters there make a comeback. This time, however, the Raven Guard encounter the Brazen Minotaurs (the former are the main protagonists). I listened to the audio drama and was delighted to listen to the Brazen Minotaurs' accents, which sound akin to the African tongue. That's just one of the reasons why I enjoyed this book - another is the plot itself. The Minotaurs are on the hunt for an artifact that could help in the war against the Chaos legions, and so they arrive on the planet Kasharat. The voices and the battle effects are done really well and was able to evoke the sense of dread the characters went through as they hunted, and also got hunted.
This is a great read, and I recommend it :)
This is a great read, and I recommend it :)
February 20, 2020
I listened to the audiobook version of this book. As usual a fantastic action packed story, I can't actually say anything without giving anything away.. well worth the read.
December 19, 2020
Labyrinth of Sorrows sees the Brazon Minotaurs having to dive in to rescue their Librian who has gone and got captured! The Story is epic from the beginning as they encounter more Plague Space Marines but at the same time are getting help from an unkown source!
Labyrinth of Sorrows is frentic and full of action from the beginning! At the same time it delves into what has happened and what the traitor legions are up to! The presentation is brilliantly handled with all the charachters coming off as distinclty sperate! At the same time you do not know which way the story is going to go as the characters are always encountering new events at every turn!
Labyrinth of Sorrows is billiant! It is full of world building as the Brazon Minotaurs come across new events at every turn, Bolter fire as the odds against them stack up, Epic Combat as they encounter hosts of cobantant, mysteries as you are kept guessing as to who is helping them, heroics as they they try to rescue the librarian, humour as they encounter the bizzarre, adventure as they delve deeper and then have to fight their way back and action! Brilliant Crisp High Five! Get it if You Can!
Labyrinth of Sorrows is frentic and full of action from the beginning! At the same time it delves into what has happened and what the traitor legions are up to! The presentation is brilliantly handled with all the charachters coming off as distinclty sperate! At the same time you do not know which way the story is going to go as the characters are always encountering new events at every turn!
Labyrinth of Sorrows is billiant! It is full of world building as the Brazon Minotaurs come across new events at every turn, Bolter fire as the odds against them stack up, Epic Combat as they encounter hosts of cobantant, mysteries as you are kept guessing as to who is helping them, heroics as they they try to rescue the librarian, humour as they encounter the bizzarre, adventure as they delve deeper and then have to fight their way back and action! Brilliant Crisp High Five! Get it if You Can!
June 24, 2019
Horribly dull. I get it that not every marine gets to be Talos Valcoran or Garviel Loken, but listening to a story about a straightforward mission carried out by no less straightforward marines (and their slightly oblique allies) with all the pathos you can imagine and no complications or twists whatsoever is ... a test. I made it through, but I failed to get any amusement (scorn aside) from the story.
November 29, 2023
Boring and hard to focus on even though I am generally interested in all factions involved. The Raven Guard's behavior is entirely pointless and Mann doesn't even do a very good job trying to fig leaf why they would behave this way, even within the lore of the secretive Legion.
January 12, 2024
An intriguing look into the interplay between factions. Yes this book is less about the Raven Guard and more the Minotaurs but it was fun. It shows the differences and highlights the subtlety of the Raven Guards style. Also Plague Marine strength is nothing to scoff at even if they are traitors.
November 19, 2016
Yet another fantastic bit of fiction. Really enjoying the 40k universe so far.
September 21, 2017
Audio book, does it count as reading? A worth wile story to listen to, although the stereotype Jamaican sounding Space Marines is a twist.
December 4, 2023
It's cheesy in all the right ways an a perfect introduction to two of the many Astartes chapters
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews